Everyman’s Hut

Camp News, Volume 1, Issue 10, 16 February 1940, Page 5

Everyman’s Hut

“Change and decay in all around I see, 0! Thou, Who changest not, abide with me.” As one listens to the words of this grand old hymn ringing out from the men gathered in the hut, one’s mind travels back in retrospect over the years that are past. Twenty-five years ago the thunderbolt of war crashed from a blue sky upon a peaceful world, bringing in its train suffering and change. One remembers the enthusiasm of those days of ’l4 and .’ls. As the picture of our late King George V. would be thrown upon the screen in the picture house, as one man the whole audience would rise and spontaneously break into the strains of the National Anthem. The difficulty then was not to get men for the Force, but to sort out the pick from those offering. To-day “change”—yes, and as one thinks of the numbers of men, married and with families, who have already left these shores, or are soon to leave, surely it must be said “change and decay.” But what changes in the last few months—a camp sprang into existence almost overnight, but already it has changed— are giving way to huts, new buildings cons J a:atly rising. Men are changing constantly, old faces disappear. Their places taken by new ones, who themselves will soon pass on to make room for others. Drill, training, tactics all are changed. And taking a wider outlook one contemplated an even changing world, situation, changes due not only to the operation of land, sea and air forces, but also to the warfares waged incessantly in economic and diplomatic spheres. The ' problem facing the average ordinary individual is to find something enduring to which to pin one’s faith. The efforts of those responsible for the conduct of Everyman’s Hut are directed to providing the key to this problem, and the men are urged to look past themselves, look beyond the world to that One “Who changes not,” that One Who will abide with them forever. Generally speaking the men realise they are on serious business and they think of serious things. “Desperate diseases require desperate remedies.” While one deplores the whole circumstances of war and what it entails, if that circumstance is causing people to turn back to God, to readjust spiritual values and seek spiritual things, surely good must ultimately result from it all. To hear the men singing with all their hearts the well known old hymns or listening in respectful silence to the reading of the Scriptures and the message following, convinces one that the Hut is filling a most pressing need amongst the men. May the memories of it all strengthen their hearts as they fare forth to face the unknown.

Mr. Gordon Blair’s hut has arrived and. though the bad weather has hindered its erection, it should be ready for use shortly. Sunday mornings the Band boys take charge and give Gordon a much appreciated spell. Last Sunday the power was off until well into the afternoon owing to the change over of the main lines and our hearty thanks are due to all the boys who

Jf p willingly worked to provide a supsiiy of hot water. Thank you one and .. 1. We recognise the spirit behind aur kind action, and accept it as a *ken of your appreciation. Perhaps . . the final balance , you are doing us least as much good as we are seeking to do for you.